Page 11 of Sideline Sweetheart
Yes.
Have a nice time. I’ll see you tomorrow.
Thanks, goodnight, Bryce.
Goodnight, Mackenzie
It makes me smile for him to use my full name instead of going with Mac. So many people opt for the nickname once theyget to know me, I sometimes forget to answer when someone calls me Mackenzie.
I tuck my phone into the pocket of my yoga pants as another knock sounds on the door. I open it to Allison leading the charge, a bottle of wine in each hand. I smile and raise a brow at her.
She shrugs sheepishly. “I wasn’t sure if you’d want red or white, so I brought both.”
I laugh and direct her to the kitchen as Jamie and Luna follow behind her. I pull four small plates from the cabinet and set them on the counter next to the charcuterie tray.
“This looks delicious,” Luna says eyeing the tray.
“I figured if wine was involved, we needed something in our stomachs as well.”
Jamie grins as her hand gently traces one of the petals. “Who are the flowers from?”
I feel my cheeks heat as I open the bottle of white wine while Allison opens the red. “Um, they’re from Bryce.”
“Of course they are,” she says a wide smile overtaking her face.
“Flowers before the date,” Luna says. “Impressive. He’s already racking up points in my book.”
I laugh. “You all are incorrigible.”
We each pour ourselves some wine and load our plates with bites from the tray. When we’ve consumed about half our glass of wine, Luna speaks, gaining our attention. “Okay, Mackenzie, show us to your closet, let’s see what you got.”
They follow me to my bedroom, each one perching on the edge of the bed, wine glass in hand. I set my glass on the dresser and step inside the walk-in closet. I pull two hangers off the rack one the classic LBD, sleeveless with beading around the neckline and the other a royal blue halter dress with an intricate floral pattern in silver stitching around the neck and waist.
I step out of the closet and hold up the dresses. “I was thinking about wearing one of these. What do you think?”
Their eyes widen and smiles grace all three faces as they say in unison, “The blue one.”
I can’t help but laugh at their reaction. “The blue it is,” I reply taking the dresses back to the closet.
“What shoes are you wearing?” Luna asks glancing down at my bare feet.
I wiggle my pink painted toes as I answer, “I have some silver strappy heels, I thought would work well. Bryce is tall so I don’t have to worry about the heel height.”
They all murmur in agreement before Allison claps her hands and squeals. “Oh, this is so exciting! I can’t wait to hear all about your date.”
I smile at their excitement. Honestly, I can’t wait either, I hope I’m not making a mistake by going out with a player.
Chapter Seven
Bryce
The first thingI did after inviting Mackenzie to dinner was call The Lake House to make a reservation. Presumptuous? Maybe. Situated on the western shore of Saluda Lake, The Lake House had been named one of the most exclusive restaurants in Greenville, and I wasn’t willing to risk not getting a table. Besides, it’s easier to cancel if she turns me down. Of course, I hadn’t anticipated she would do exactly that. Instead of cancelling the reservation, I gifted it to Reed and made a reservation for the next week. When she still refused my invitation, I offered it to Felipe. And reserved a table for the next two weeks. Leo took the third week before Mackenzie finally accepted.
After practice, I stop at Glorianna’s, to pick up an assorted box of specialty chocolates. The award-winning chocolatier has the finest chocolates this side of Belgium. Once I have the chocolates, I head home to get ready for my date.
I shower, shave and apply a spritz of Bleu, my favorite cologne by Chanel, before I pull my black suit from the closet. Ipair the suit with a white dress shirt, black tie with a blue paisley design and black Cole Haan Wingtip dress shoes. I slide my wallet and phone into my pocket, grab my keys and the box of chocolates off the breakfast bar and head out the door to my car.
After making my way through traffic, I pull up to the Mackenzie’s building twenty minutes later. Finding a spot on the street, I park along the curb and head inside, chocolates in hand. I take the elevator to the seventh floor, locate Mackenzie’s door and knock.
